The next federal budget watchdog: Will this man be the new Kevin Page?

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Economist Jean-Denis Fréchette has kept a low profile on Parliament Hill, working for most of his career as a researcher with the Library of Parliament.

But Mr. Fréchette could soon be thrust into the limelight as sources say he is among the finalists to be the next Parliamentary Budget Officer – one of the most challenging jobs in Ottawa.

The question is whether he would want anything to do with the limelight should he get the job.

Those who know Mr. Fréchette say he is smart and friendly. He describes himself on his private Twitter account in French as an economist, public servant, cyclist and interested observer of all things politico-economic.

Members of Parliament from both sides of the House of Commons would likely be familiar with Mr. Fréchette from his long experience working on Parliament Hill and its committees.

But should he be appointed, his long history in the Library – rather than a government department or outside organization – will likely revive the central debate over whether the PBO should be independent of the Parliamentary library.

It is a fundamental point of contention when it comes to the PBO, which was created by the Conservative government in 2006 as a division of the Parliamentary Library, rather than an independent officer of Parliament like the Auditor General or the Access and Privacy Commissioners. The office is intended to provide independent analysis to Parliament of the government's finances and estimate costs of proposed legislation.

Mr. Page nearly quit the position early on after the Library attempted to have more control over the PBO.

Last month, the Conservative majority defeated a private member's bill from NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair that would have made the PBO an independent officer of Parliament.

Speculation in Ottawa is that the government would like to see the PBO operate more like the Library, where policy reports are released but officials are not commenting on them regularly in the public.

Mr. Page maintained a very high profile in the media during his term. One of his former employees, Stephen Tapp, recently argued that the future PBO should dial back the controversy and media appearances.

"Success in the second term will require overseeing the smooth transition from a young office into a more established organization. On occasion, this will require more restraint and a heightened awareness of the risks and the potential fallout from controversial choices," wrote Mr. Tapp in a piece for the Institute for Research on Public Policy.

A search committee led by the Library of Parliament submitted three names to the government in May, leaving it up to the government to make a selection. One of the three candidates is believed to have already withdrawn.

The three names have not been publicly released, but sources say it is believed Mr. Fréchette is on the list.

Amid the uncertainty over the position, a power struggle is playing out that involves federal deputy ministers, the Privy Council Office, the Speakers of the House and Senate, the PBO and Mr. Mulcair.

In April, Federal Court Justice Sean Harrington dismissed a case brought by the PBO and Mr. Mulcair that alleged federal departments were breaching the Parliament of Canada Act by refusing to provide details on spending cuts that Mr. Mulcair had asked the PBO to obtain.

However, the decision to dismiss was based on a technicality – the judge felt the case was premature because the PBO had not formally submitted requests to departments on behalf of Mr. Mulcair.

The court suggested that if the request was filed appropriately, the government would have to comply.

"Parliament has no right to ignore its own legislation," the court ruled. Shortly after, interim PBO Sonia L'Heureux – who is also the head of the Parliamentary library – submitted the requests to departments.

On July 3, Ms. L'Heureux wrote to 65 deputy ministers and agency heads warning them that they are still refusing information and that she has discussed this with the Speakers of the House and the Senate.

"The Speakers asked me to write to you again to request the data needed in relation to the analysis I have been asked to undertake at the request of parliamentarians," she writes, giving them a deadline of July 19.

The deputy ministers now must decide whether to provide the information or prepare for a new battle in Federal Court with a still unknown new Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Bill Curry covers finance in Ottawa.